Windows kept removing the pin and gives me the "sign in" button when multiple restarts after setting the pin it, but there were more issues

Question

Windows kept removing the pin and gives me the "sign in" button when multiple restarts after setting the pin it, but there were more issues

Win ColorFul 5

Is there any ways to fix these issues?

(This happens this morning) When I woke up, I turned on my computer, but after the login page, I get this button "Sign in". I was confused on what's going on. It takes me to the Microsoft sign in page, but I see no passkey on the list, so I signed in manually with a password. When I signed in, it boots normally. But then task manager stops responding when opened, some games don't respond. I set the pin, and tried restarting it multiple times to see if it really applies. Instead of showing the pin box, it shows "Sign in" again. I didn't know what was going on.

According to HelloForBusiness, it has an error

Failed to load an existing Windows Hello container.``Error: 0x80070002

Which, I am unsure if that explains well.

The more worse part was: All of my saved passkeys are just gone in settings.

I can't send screenshots because snipping tool kept crashing when attempting to capture a full screen.

"Faulting application name: SnippingTool.exe, version: 11.2607.20.0, time stamp: 0x6a85df3e

Faulting module name: SnippingTool.exe, version: 11.2607.20.0, time stamp: 0x6a85df3e

Exception code: 0xc000027b

Fault offset: 0x000000000000862d

Faulting process id: 0x3D2C

Faulting application start time: 0x1DD366EC2671A09

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2607.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\SnippingTool\SnippingTool.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2607.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\SnippingTool\SnippingTool.exe"

I have tried these steps:
"chkdsk C: /f /r" (in Advanced Option command prompt)
"DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth"
"sfc /scannow" (according to them, they said they fixed it, but after starting up the computer, it seems like its never fixed its issue | in advanced option command prompt)
And my last method was installing an ISO file that contains setup.exe, installed with keep personal files and apps, and that method still didn't work.

I notice the settings switched the email to "Local Account" without a profile picture. I don't see it affected the login page yet with "Local Account".

Factory reset isn't what I like to do, since I have my data for years. And backup data doesn't work because it could be the cloud storage limit. (I have a 1 tb) - Pretty much that it could be the Windows files being really unstable.

OS Information:
Windows 11 Build 29648.1000 Home x64
AMD Ryzen 5
15.3 GB usable ram (16 GB)

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Win ColorFul 5

The Microsoft account popup and snipping tool worked, snipping tool randomly worked on the previous version of Windows Insider (which that version had bugs going), and Microsoft account popup worked on the latest update. In settings, it shows my actual email and profile again without the "Local Account". I'm not sure if they'll stay in the next restart, but right now it appears to be working.

What I am worried about was: I am not sure if my pin would restore on an update automatically (the pin aren't back), also my passkeys aren't in settings still. And the image file when trying to open in file explorer did not resolved yet.
Note: The "sign in" still happens.

Screenshot app: ShareX
What's new issue was: my clicks on some apps, file explorer, a taskbar won't register. When I clicked on the app icon, it shows "Start" is hovered. In snipping tool, I hold click to screenshot, it didn't show the dragged outlines. The feedback hub clicks doesn't work, only tab key works. Some file explorer features (on the top) doesn't register a click, but the rest of the middle/bottom is clickable. The alt + tab screen doesn't register a click when clicked on one app. Assuming it happened to other apps, this happened to my OS.

Taskbar and games worked previously because it was the NVIDIA GPU update. The update was "August 25th 2026", and that update causes games and apps to hang. I rolled back to the July 2026 update, it worked.

2026_09_13_0lx_Kleki

UoM2tAh6Ic

Clary-N 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-15T10:47:39.6866667+00:00

Hi Win,

Thank you for the detailed update. It’s good to hear that the Microsoft account popup and Snipping Tool are working again, and that Settings is now showing your Microsoft account correctly.

I understand that rolling back the August 25 NVIDIA driver to the July version fixed the earlier issue with games and apps hanging. The new clicking issue seems separate, since parts of the taskbar, File Explorer, Snipping Tool, Feedback Hub and Alt+Tab are still not responding properly.

Your PIN may not return automatically after an update. If Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > PIN (Windows Hello) now shows Set up, you can try creating it again. However, since the passkeys, recurring “Sign in” prompt, PNG error and clicking issues are still present, the Experimental build still appears unstable.

Since you’ve already submitted feedback, I recommend backing up your files. If the issues continue after a restart, the most reliable option would still be to return to the current public version of Windows 11 through a clean installation. You can also check whether Settings > System > Recovery > Go back is available.
Clary-N 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-16T08:10:24.34+00:00

Hi Win,

Have you had a chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.

Answer 2

CrazyKats 19,595 Volunteer Moderator

Hi Win,

You won't get an e mail response

back to an issue filed in the Feedback

Hub. It's more for the engineers to collect

diagnostics to help fix a problem.

Win ColorFul 5 Reputation points

2026-08-30T01:11:07.8333333+00:00

Oh, I understand. Thanks

Answer 3

Clary-N 16,020 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Win ColorFul,

Thank you for the detailed information. Since the PIN keeps disappearing, your passkeys are missing, the account has switched to a local account and you're seeing app crashes, this may be related to user profile or account corruption rather than just a Windows Hello issue.

Could you let me know if this started after a recent update, crash or unexpected shutdown? Also, for the in-place repair, did you use an ISO from the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page, or a standard Windows 11 ISO? Since you're running Build 29648.1000, knowing which installation media was used may help determine whether the repair matched your current build.

Since you've already run CHKDSK, SFC, DISM and even performed an in-place repair installation, I'd suggest testing with a new local administrator account:

-Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users and select Add account.

-Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account.

-Create the account and change it to Administrator.

-Sign in to the new account and check whether:

The PIN remains available after a restart.
Task Manager opens normally.
Snipping Tool works without crashing.
Passkeys and sign-in options behave normally.

If everything works normally in the new account, that would suggest the issue is limited to the current user profile rather than the Windows installation itself.

Please let me know the results of the test and whether there was any specific event before the issue began.

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Win ColorFul 5 Reputation points

2026-08-28T01:25:52.2366667+00:00

I updated my computer a week ago, it installed normally. After my computer was having issues, I used a Windows Insider Preview ISO, and installed it, its still having the same problem. (I selected "Experimental (Build 29648.1000) - Future Platforms").

Also, the "Add account" popup kept closing itself after opening it. (described as a white screen only, no signs of a sign in page)

I also realized that I cannot open png files directly to File Explorer because it said "Windows cannot find 'C:\Users{my name}\Downloads\2026_08_27_0zj_Kleki.png'."
Clary-N 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-28T07:37:20.25+00:00

Hi Win ColorFul,

Thank you for confirming. Since the Add account window closes by itself, built-in apps are crashing, and File Explorer cannot open an existing PNG file, this now appears to be a broader Windows component or preview-build issue rather than only a corrupted user profile.

Build 29648.1000 is an Experimental (Future Platforms) build. These builds can be unstable and are not aligned with a standard retail version of Windows 11. Returning from this channel to a public Windows 11 build requires a clean installation.

Before proceeding, please back up all important personal files to another drive or cloud storage. I also recommend reporting these symptoms through Feedback Hub by pressing Windows key + F. This will help the Windows development team investigate the issue and identify whether it is related to the current preview build.

If Settings > System > Recovery > Go back is available, you can try returning to the previous build. If that option is unavailable or does not resolve the problem, the most reliable next step would be to clean-install the current public release of Windows 11. Please note that a clean installation removes personal files, installed apps and settings, so make sure everything important is backed up first.

Please let me know whether the rollback option is available and how it goes.
Clary-N 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-29T09:00:43.53+00:00

Hi Win ColorFul,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer?

I am glad to help if you have any other questions.
Win ColorFul 5 Reputation points

2026-08-30T00:45:19.65+00:00

I checked your answer! Also I submitted it to the feedback hub. Yesterday at night, I pressed Win+F, report a problem, also I submit it to the feedback hub. I also press "contact me" and put my email there with details that I am having issues. I haven't heard back anything yet.
Clary-N 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-31T01:27:18.01+00:00

Hi Win ColorFul,

Thank you for the update. As the Volunteer Moderator noted, Feedback Hub reports typically do not generate a direct email response. They are primarily used by the Windows engineering team to collect diagnostics and investigate issues on Insider and preview builds.

You can also post your findings in the Windows Insider Program Community Hub, where Insider build issues are actively discussed.

I hope this information helps.
CrazyKats 19,595 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-31T01:45:57.6333333+00:00

Clary-N, just an fyi that I edited your post.

I'm a Volunteer Moderator, not an Independent

Advisor. Hope you don't mond.